Black and White Rhino

In Africa, we get two species of rhino: the black rhino (sometimes called the hook-lipped rhino) and the white rhino (the square-lipped rhino). Both species are large, robust mammals with two horns on the front of their face. The white rhino is the largest of all rhino species and uses its wide mouth to graze grasses. The black rhino is smaller, but much more temperamental. It is a browser, meaning it eats leaves off of shrubs, trees and bushes.

DID YOU KNOW?

Cousins Abroad

There are five species of rhino found in the world: the black and white rhino (both found in Africa) as well as the Indian, the Sumatran and the Javan rhinos, which are found in small pockets in Asia.

A Hairy Horn

Rhino horns are made of keratin, which is the same protein that hair and fingernails are made from.

Double White

The white rhino is split into two sub-species: the more common Southern white rhino and the extremely rare Northern white rhino. The Northern white rhino is critically endangered, and possibly extinct from the wild.

Living Fossils

Rhinos are one of the oldest groups of mammals.

photo of a white rhino lying in the mud

rhinos enjoy wallowing in mud, it helps to protect them from the sun and the flies.

photo of a white rhino with a very small calf

Rhino males are called bulls, females are cows and a baby rhino is called a calf.

close up of a white rhino with a long horn

The longest recorded white rhino horn was 150cm.

photo of a white rhino lying in the mud

rhinos enjoy wallowing in mud, it helps to protect them from the sun and the flies.

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Rhino Conservation

Rhino numbers are decreasing globally due to persistent poaching and habitat loss over many decades. Three species of rhino—black, Javan, and Sumatran—are critically endangered.

Rhino horn is used in traditional Asian medicine, particularly in Vietnam and China. There is no scientific evidence that the horn is beneficial in any way, as it is made of keratin, the same protein that our hair and nails are made of. Some ways that reserves have tried to combat the rhino poaching is by establishing Anti-Poaching Units (APU). These teams work with high-tech gear and trained dogs to help catch potential poachers. Many reserves have also dehorned their rhinos, which grow back after time. This has been shown to have some success, but unfortunately is always enough to deter poachers.

There are multiple efforts, on the ground in Africa and abroad, that are doing their part to help the war on poaching. Explore the links below to learn more and see what you can do to help.